title: Spirituality and desistance from substance use among reentering offenders.
abstract: Prior research has indicated an inverse relationship between religion and criminal behavior; however, few studies have specifically examined the effect of spirituality on the desistance process among a contemporary and diverse sample of reentering drug-involved offenders. A comprehensive understanding of how spirituality is related to desistance from substance use can lead to more effective and evidence-based preventive and rehabilitative interventions. Using data from a longitudinal study of 920 diverse offenders returning to the community after a period of incarceration, the current study examines three distinct forms of substance use (alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine) to gauge the effect that spirituality plays in the desistance process. The findings suggest a relatively high importance of spirituality in terms of preventing substance use during reentry, particularly concerning the use of both alcohol and cocaine.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, USA nbakken@uwlax.edu.
authors.forename: Nicholas W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Bakken
authors.affiliation: Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, USA.
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: DeCamp
authors.affiliation: University of Delaware, Newark, USA.
authors.forename: Christy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Visher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D062309:Community Integration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D065840:Protective Factors; D012008:Recurrence; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D029181:Spirituality; D013695:Temperance; D014481:United States
keywords: desistance; incarceration; spirituality; substance use